Reeling in the aftermath of her mother’s suicide attempt, a young swimmer works through her trauma in the water while desperately trying to break the wall of silence at home.

Interview with Writer/Director Liv Colliander

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

Thank you! DRYLAND was my thesis film from AFI Conservatory’s Directing program, where I graduated from in December 2015. I teamed up with my good friend and co-writer Anne Metcalf, also from AFI, and we wrote DRYLAND based on my personal experience of finding my mother attempting suicide.

I knew at the time that my mother was going through a lot of challenging changes in her life, but didn’t know she was depressed. Today she is back on her feet and stronger than ever, but the time right after the attempt was difficult. It changed our relationship completely, and we had to find each other all over again in the darkness of shame, blame, love and pain.

People don’t really talk about their experiences with suicide and depression. It is a huge taboo. It was also hard to make a film about it, but we wanted to take up that challenge in DRYLAND. We made the lead girl a swimmer and used the water as the voice of the quiet emotional process that her and her mother go through in the film.

One of my friends said that the film is like a poetic love letter for my mom. I think that is true. But we made the film to bring people together, move them emotionally and hopefully make them talk about their own encounters with suicide and depression.

Charlie Kanter in DRYLAND

Imagine I'm a member of the audience. Why should I watch this movie?

The film will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions, above and under water, together with its characters, and hopefully leave you with a great feeling of relief by the end. After the journey, I would hope that it inspires a warm and open-minded conversation about depression and suicide, between you, your friends, family and maybe even the stranger in the seat next to you – making the subject less of a taboo. It might make you want to call you mom afterwards…

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

DRYLAND is rooted in one of the most painful personal experiences of my life. However, it is still universal in the simplest way, as it is about two people trying to connect and talk together.I don’t think it makes a difference if you are a woman or a man watching the film. It could just as well have been a mother and son relationship. Because the film is working with the human stages of grief that we all know: shock and denial, pain and guilt, anger, bargaining, depression, reflection, loneliness, reconstruction and working through, acceptance and hope.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of development and production?

The script changed a lot throughout development. In the beginning there was a lot of dialogue, at some point it was almost a comedy and at another a classic horror. Anne and I searched every corner to find the right tone for the subject. The story was always the same, and it had to take place in a desert city and pool.

Because it is such a difficult subject to ‘talk’ about, in the literal sense, and such a sensitive and internal emotional process, we couldn’t have two characters talking about it. We tried, but couldn’t get it to work. So through the writing process the script ended up having a lot less dialogue than we began with, and ended up with a lot more powerful small quiet moments between the characters. When we edited, this was enhanced even more.

Charlie Kanter under water in DRYLAND.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

I have only received very positive and kind feedback so far. It has been very moving. Several people have burst into tears during the film or by the end – people ranging from young girls to tough old men. Some people who saw it a year ago when we finished it, tell me that it still sits with them. This feedback makes me want to cry… It is the first time I have made a film that has moved people to tears, and I take this as a great compliment.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

I have cried over the film several times myself, both during production and afterwards. But that’s because of the personal feelings from my own experience. That said, I was actually very surprised when it turned out that people weren’t crying because they were sad to be stuck watching my film, but because the film touched them and moved them to tears – this was a positive heartwarming surprise.

What are you looking at by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

I hope that even more people will want to see DRYLAND. Maybe even tonight at LA Shorts Fest where it is playing right before the awards ceremony. And if people have already watched it, this might give them a better understanding of how it came to be.

Who do you need-to come on board (is produced, sales agents, buyers, Distributors, film festival directors, journalist) to amplify this film's message?

Anyone who is interested in it I would say. No matter who they are and what they do. We are only about halfway through our first festival year since the film’s completion, so we are still looking for the right way to distribute it. So yes, we welcome buyers, distributors, certainly more film festivals and wonderful journalists like yourself to help share our work.

Charlie Kanter and Jacqueline Wright in DRYLAND,

What type of impact and / or reception would you like this film to see?

If the film moves people who watch it, and makes more accessible conversations about depression and suicide, then I am pretty happy.

What's a key question that will help kick debate or begin a conversation about this film?

How can we help people close to us when they get depressed or attempt suicide? Do we talk about it or ignore it hoping it will go away by itself?

Would you like to add anything else?

Why are so many people in our society today on antidepressants, for more than a couple of months? Is it because we silence our problems and struggles with medication instead of dealing with them and talking about them? Do we make it into a sickness to be sad and struggling with life, instead of accepting it as a common part of being human?

What are the key creatives working on now?

Everyone is working different projects within their discipline. I have been shooting music videos, commercials and am finishing the script for my first feature and a TV pilot, both about chaotic family relationships full of secrets and people who can’t communicate with each other.

We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

Made in association with: The American Film Institute’s Conservatory (AFI)

Release date: 1st of December 2015

Where can I watch it in the next month?At Reykjavik International Film Festival, where Liv is in the talent lab and DRYLAND is nominated for the Golden Egg. DRYLAND is also in the official selection at The American Film Festival in Poland and at Laughlin International Film Festival.